Announcing the Step Up to the Plate @ your library® starting line-up

For Immediate Release
February 26, 2008

Announcing the Step Up to the Plate @ your library® starting line-up

First 100 registrants to receive free poster

Since registration for Season Three of the "Step Up to the Plate" program opened in early February, hundreds of librarians have signed up to access free tools to promote the program. Of those, the first 100 will receive a Jackie Robinson
History Lives poster from ALA Graphics.

To view the list of the first 100 registrants visit
www.ala.org/baseball and click "How librarians can get involved" and register or log in.

While the "Step up to the Plate @ your library" program officially launches to the public on April 4, librarians can register now by visiting
www.ala.org/baseball . Also available on the Web site are program logos in both English and Spanish and a toolkit that includes sample press materials and programming ideas. Hall of Famer Ozzie smith is the program’s spokesperson.

Librarians who bring in the most entries can also win incentives for participation in the program. The library that brings in the most entries will receive a $100 bookstore gift certificate and a copy of "Baseball's Greatest Hit: The Story of ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game,’" by Andy Strasberg, Bob Thompson and Tim Wiles. The next three libraries will receive a $50 ALA Graphics gift certificate and a copy of "Baseball's Greatest Hit." Each of the four winning libraries will also receive a baseball autographed by Ozzie Smith.

This year’s program teams up two American classics – baseball and libraries – to promote the importance of information literacy skills and increase awareness of the library as an essential information resource. Fans of all ages will be encouraged to visit their library and answer a series of trivia questions inspired by "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Categories of questions will include ballparks, baseball in popular culture, fan experience and baseball pioneers. One grand-prize winner will receive an all expenses paid trip for two to the Hall of Fame in October 2008.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a Founding Partner in The Campaign for America’s Libraries. Other Founding Partners include Dollar General, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the Woman’s Day magazine. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA’s Library Champions, ALA’s highest level of corporate members, who support public awareness and advocacy on behalf of America’s libraries.